Welcome to DBSTalk

Welcome to DBSTalk. Our community covers all aspects of video delivery solutions including: Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), Cable Television, and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). We also have forums to discuss popular television programs, home theater equipment, and internet streaming service providers. Members of our community include experts who can help you solve technical problems, industry professionals, company representatives, and novices who are here to learn.

Like most online communities you must register to view or post in our community. Sign-up is a free and simple process that requires minimal information. Be a part of our community by signing in or creating an account. The Digital Bit Stream starts here!

Debit Card vs. Credit Card Auto Pay Date

I switched from a debit card to a credit card for my auto bill pay a couple of months ago. With debit, it always posted on the 22nd of the month. The first month with the credit card, it posted on the 22nd as well. Now, with the latest bill, it posted on the credit card on the 7th. I called DirecTV billing and they said that credit cards are withdrawn on the bill "release date". For debit cards, they are withdrawn on the bill "due date", which is about 2 weeks later.

That is how it is done, my guess on the reasoning is to give you a chance to review the bill before it is debited. Charge to a credit card it is not as big a deal if it takes a week to resolve an issue also you can contest charges on a credit card.

As a word of caution and your own security, try not to use Debit cards for autopay. Debit cards are usually linked to checking accounts and generally are not covered for fraudulent activity. Credit cards for the most part are covered for fraudulent activity. In other words if your did not authorize a charge more than likely you will not be held liable by the card company. Since the Debit card is linked to a checking account, if a fraud occurs, the money is already withdrawn from the account and extremely difficult to recover.....

A lot of banks do offer protections, but it still is more painful since you really are out the money for at least a few weeks. My wife got a call from her bank that there was a suspicious charge on her debit card. It was only one for about $100, but she had to fill out a form and such to get it back. Fortunately, there really was only one charge.

A lot of banks do offer protections, but it still is more painful since you really are out the money for at least a few weeks. My wife got a call from her bank that there was a suspicious charge on her debit card. It was only one for about $100, but she had to fill out a form and such to get it back. Fortunately, there really was only one charge.

Yep. My identity was stolen once I was out about 600$ (through frost bank in texas) before they caught on and notified me. It took about a little over a month to get it all straightened out.

As a word of caution and your own security, try not to use Debit cards for autopay. Debit cards are usually linked to checking accounts and generally are not covered for fraudulent activity. Credit cards for the most part are covered for fraudulent activity. In other words if your did not authorize a charge more than likely you will not be held liable by the card company. Since the Debit card is linked to a checking account, if a fraud occurs, the money is already withdrawn from the account and extremely difficult to recover.....

In June 2007, Threat Level reported that Davis had been the victim of identity theft after someone used his identity to obtain a $500 loan from a check-cashing company. Davis discovered the crime only after the company called his wife’s cellphone to recover the unpaid debt.

About four months after that story published, Davis’ identity was stolen again by someone in Albany, Georgia, who opened an AT&T/Cingular wireless account using his Social Security number (.pdf), according to a police report obtained by the New Times. The perpetrator racked up $2,390 in charges on the account, which remained unpaid. Davis, whose real name according to police reports is Richard Todd Davis, only learned a year later that his identity had been stolen again after AT&T handed off the debt to a collection agency and a note appeared on his credit report.

Then last year, Davis discovered seven more fraudulent accounts on his credit report that were opened with his personal information and have outstanding debt, according to the police report.

Someone opened a Verizon account in New York, leaving an unpaid bill of at least $186. An account at Centerpoint Energy, a Texas utility, was delinquent $122. Credit One Bank was owed $573, and Swiss Colony, a gift-basket company, was seeking $312.

In addition to these amounts, Davis’s credit report showed five collection agencies were seeking other sums from accounts opened in his name: Bay Area Credit was pursuing $265; Associated Credit Services was seeking two debts in the amount of $207 and $213; Enhanced Recovery Corporation was chasing $250 and $381.

If you stop responding to them or put them on ignore, then eventually they'll go away.

Just happened to me today. Due to divorce, I switched the auto bill pay to my business debit card. (self employed) but it is a debit card none the less. First month after changing from old family debit card, the payment was drafted 15 days after bill date. This month's bill was drafted today, being yesterday was the bill date. No big deal, but I guess mine was run through the credit network.

Either way, new non-marital credit card coming this week. I will change the billing to that one as soon as activated.

I really think they figure you get grace period with the credit card, so they want their 15 days of time value of money.

That is the point I was trying to make. Your funds are gone until it is settled. Some banks re-act quicker than others for their customers, but if by chance most or all of your balance was affected, then then you'll need to "re-fund" your account(or open a new one). As stated in that article you have to re-act quickly in order to limit your liabilty, many people don't look daily at their balances. My only point was with credit card transactions, you have more time to pursue fraudulent behavior and your money isn't "instantly" withdrawn from you. As with everything, people must set their own tolerance for risk. Was only trying to help......

I look at it this way. A fraudulent debit card charge affects money in my checking account. A fraudulent credit card charge affects the amount I'm supposed to pay some giant company at the end of the month.

Both can be straightened out, but I'd rather argue over my bill than have to fight to get funds put back into my checking account.

That is the point I was trying to make. Your funds are gone until it is settled. Some banks re-act quicker than others for their customers, but if by chance most or all of your balance was affected, then then you'll need to "re-fund" your account(or open a new one). As stated in that article you have to re-act quickly in order to limit your liabilty, many people don't look daily at their balances. My only point was with credit card transactions, you have more time to pursue fraudulent behavior and your money isn't "instantly" withdrawn from you. As with everything, people must set their own tolerance for risk. Was only trying to help......

You have to act quickly if the actual card is stolen or lost. A lot of times, the theft doesn't actually involve the card.

The scary one with my wife was that the fraudulent charge was made at a Walgreens in Florida. She had physical possession of her card the whole time. I didn't think you could make a purchase at a POS at Walgreens without the actual card. Which would mean they had a fake card made or something.

Just happened to me today. Due to divorce, I switched the auto bill pay to my business debit card. (self employed) but it is a debit card none the less. First month after changing from old family debit card, the payment was drafted 15 days after bill date. This month's bill was drafted today, being yesterday was the bill date. No big deal, but I guess mine was run through the credit network.

Either way, new non-marital credit card coming this week. I will change the billing to that one as soon as activated.

I really think they figure you get grace period with the credit card, so they want their 15 days of time value of money.

The reason for the change is that Debit cards impact people's available money instantly so they give customer's the ability to see their bill and ensure that all charges are correct. If there is something, say an non return fee, that was applied because they didn't send a receiver back it gives them time to get it corrected before it drafts out of their account.

You said debit cards were not generally not covered for fraud. That is incorrect. There are specific rules, but they are covered.

It also depends on the banking institution. My credit union does the following:

1. Receive report about fraud.2. Closes the old card; opens a new one.3. Pick up new card at credit union and file fraud report. This also can be done over the phone (fraud report) and by mail (new card).4. Money is restored to the account within 24 hours.

This happened to me once with my debit card. Not used anywhere at the time and the card was compromised. Had it happen three times on credit card, as well. In both cases, the credit union took care of the problem.

They shrugged their shoulders and said, until this country has chip implanted credit and debit cards, this problem will continue. They went on to say that fraud occur much more than people think.

The reason for the change is that Debit cards impact people's available money instantly so they give customer's the ability to see their bill and ensure that all charges are correct. If there is something, say an non return fee, that was applied because they didn't send a receiver back it gives them time to get it corrected before it drafts out of their account.

While I am used to the very poor business practice of DirecTV taking the money from a credit card before the bill is available to view, and way before the bill is actually due, it doesn't change the fact that in my 69 years on this old ball of dirt, I've never seen a company do this other than DirecTV.

It also depends on the banking institution. My credit union does the following:

Yeah, and mine has a daily spend limit on transactions. Automated debits using checking don't count, but I've forgotten about it and tried to make a large purchase and get declined. After a moment of panic, I remember. Fortunately it's an easy and fast fix, at least if they're open or I remember and plan ahead. It's only hit me a few times but also reduces my risk. Though the daily limit is still enough that it wouldn't be painless.

The reason for the change is that Debit cards impact people's available money instantly so they give customer's the ability to see their bill and ensure that all charges are correct. If there is something, say an non return fee, that was applied because they didn't send a receiver back it gives them time to get it corrected before it drafts out of their account.